Moves of the PWA

Moves of the PWA

With PWA Fuerteventura all wrapped up for this year we thought we would bring together the current moves of the moment so you can understand the difference between a pasko and a culo or an air-bob to a kabikuchi. We’ve also given each move our own Boardseeker difficulty rating so if you are considering attempting such moves then we suggest to start from the ‘easiest’ and work your way up.

Gollito Estredo mid pasko in the final against Kiri Thode. Photo by PWA World Tour/John Carter

There was an unbelievable aerobatic display thrown down in Fuerteventura this year and even the competitors themselves were heard applauding their fellow riders and/or rivals. The PWA must be pretty pleased with themselves at the moment as the new power move judging format has pushed the level of freestyle windsurfing away from the traditional sliding moves to a more aerial and explosive display, of which only a few have fully mastered. These few are currently reaping the rewards of their risk taking antics as they fly through full 720 spins in the air and complete moves where a total change of direction has taken place mid-trick. So what are the moves, what is new and who is doing them?

Pasko

Difficulty: 8/10

Invented by Gollito, this move has been around for over a year now. Inspired by Marcilio Browne’s double air-taka this particular stunt was really the favourite last week. What is more it wasn’t just the top 5 that were seen trying and landing them, even in the first round of the double elimination we saw people going for them. However, Steven Van Broeckhoven, Tonky Frans and Gollito Estredo were certainly pulling them off with a style and power that seemed to be above and beyond most of the other competitors right now.

The pasko itself is essentially an air flaka into shaka all in the air. There is some discrepency at the moment about how the move should be pulled off exactly as some of the top pros are landing the pasko with very different styles. Gollito goes for a more ponch like approach whilst Steven and Tonky aim to do a full blown complete 720 flaka rotation in the air. Either way the move looks outstanding and is already pushing the boundaries of freestyle further. Some inside info Boardseeker managed to gain whilst on site in Fuerteventura was talk of a 1080 pasko… There have been claims from a couple of the competitors that they have landed a triple spinning move where two and a half of the spins have been completed in the air. It is no surprise when you see shots like the one below, where Tonky Frans is over mast high mid pasko during training in Lanzarote. Is this a move we might see in Sylt…

Tonky mid mast high pasko. Photo – Chris Kalk

Kabikuchi

Difficulty: 9/10

Perhaps this should be renamed the Kiri move because it is none other than Kiri Thode himself who is absolutely rocking it. Boosting the highest aerial kabikuchis he has them fully dialled in and can pull them out even in the most marginal conditions. Alongside him is the Italian ripper Jacopo Testa who is stomping them left, right and centre. Undeniably his favourite move you will see him sail away from one every second run, the run in between would have been some crazy culo or double culo. Another young prodigy who is stomping the move is UK styler Oscar Carmichael, training the move hard he showed promise at his first PWA event ever.

The kabikuchi is not the easiest move to describe so check the clip below to see one for yourself. Essential it is super high scoring move because it involves ducking the sail then doing a kono like movement into the wind before fully reversing in the air and spinning back the other way. The best guys can complete the full rotation before landing!

Culo into culo and burner into burner

Difficulty: 9/10

A first for competition the culo into culo was landed by Kiri Thode and Steven Van Broeckhoven last week. There were a couple others sticking the move but these two had the best consistency. The burner into burner has still yet to be seen in competition, which perhaps suggests a level of difficulty slightly above the regular stance version.

Again a move that is also not too easy to explain so check the clip below but the key is to be sure you have your single culos completely dialled in then attempt the move in stronger winds with more speed.

Air-bob into culo

Difficulty: 10/10

A combo move that made its way onto our screens in the last year this is another ducking the sail manoeuvre but all in regular stance. Kiri Thode was the one seen landing this move for the first time ever in competition and not just once but in a number of his final heats including the very controversial double elimination finals, where conditions were pretty marginal for such a technical and powerful trick.

Clew first air-chachoo

Difficulty: 10/10

Landed some 5 years ago by Gollito it finally made its way into competition this year, but it wasn’t Gollito who showed it to us. Israeli rider Yarden Meir was the man to pull it. Landing it twice in the double elimination the judges weren’t too sure what to call it at first as it looked like some aerial toad diablo… confused?? Check the clip below to see it for yourself.

No handed air flaka

Difficulty 8/10

A move only attempted and landed by Anthony Ruenes in last weeks competition. This particular trick has a high risk factor as we witnessed Ruenes crashing hard as much as he stomped it. The move itself is an aerial up wind 360 where you throw the sail away form you on take off and catch it half way through the rotation.

We have no tips for this move and unfortunately no video to go with it but all we suggest is to get your no handed flakas and your air flakas sorted before attempting this particular variation.

No handed air flaka – Photo by PWA World Tour/John Carter

To wrap up it is obvious that the level of moves within freestyle is pushing new boundaries and it is perhaps the conditions that are provided at each event that will only restrict what we will see in the future. The progression of moves continues to grow and we are surely set to see some pretty exciting developments in the coming years as the double and triple spins begin to enter the scene. One question that is on many minds will be which discipline will claim the first aerial triple move, freestyle or waves?

With PWA Tenerife just around the corner and a forecast that is all time will Koester, Campello or Brawzinho pull out the triple forward there or will one of freestyles finest get a pasko 1080 on camera before then…

Stay tuned to Boardseeker as we will make sure we bring it to you as soon as we hear about it.

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